Safety-catch for breastpins and the like



J. J. WHITE. SAFETY CATCH FOR BREASTPINS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION manMAR. 1. 1920.

1,359,008, Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

(/0 SEPH (Z Minna;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J. WHITE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO J. J. WHITEMANU- IACTURING COMPANY.

SAFETY-CATCH FOR BREASTPINS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed March 1, 1920. Serial No. 362,512.

has for an object to effect betterments therein of a character toimprove the functions of such devices and to attain new results therein.It is an aim to provide a keeper device which will automatically closeover a pin as the pin is pressed into a stationary 'furcated element,especiallyof a character to apply greater force to the starting movementof the keeper element by engagement of the pin whereby means may beprovided to hold the keeper yieldably in open position without liabilityof interfering with the closing operation of the device or making itdifficult; and the means by which this increase of force attained alsooperates to afford greater movement to the keeper than "is possible inprior devices having pin operated keeper's arranged to close over a pinby movement of the pin to closed posltion. Another purpose of thelnvention is to con struct the keeper element and stationary member insuch fashion that they will cooperate with the pin member to preventaccidental opening of the keeper device.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in thedevice and will be apparent from the following disclosure, includingdrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brooch and pin-keeper constructed inaccordance with my invention, approximately actual size.

Fig. 2- is an outer side elevation of the keeper device proper, greatlyenlarged,

Fig. 3 is a similar viewshowing the device in closed position,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the keeper,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation thereof,

Fig. 6 is an inner side elevation,

Fig. 7 isja top View thereof, with the parts in open position. 7

There is illustrated a base bar 1 of a brooch upon which any usual orspecial namental work may be mounted, this bar having ears 11 thereon atone end between which there is pivoted a usual form of spring 12provided with a heel 13 by which the point of the pin is caused tospring outwardly, or away from the bar 10. A keeper 14 is provided uponthe bar adjacent the end opposite the one having the ears 11 thereon,this keeper device comprising a base body adapted to be stamped fromsheet metal and bent into a U-shaped shape, to provide spaced ears 15and 16, with a connecting bight portion 17 at the base, which may besoldered or otherwise secured upon the bar 10; and pivoted between theears 15 and 16 there is a keeper proper 18.

The ear 15 is sloped toward the rear side 19 of the bar 10, and the car16 has a rear portion extending an equal distance toward the rear.Between the outer part of the car 15 and the rear part of the car 16,there is fixed a pivot pin 20, carrying the keeper 18. Two aws 21 and 22respectively are formed on the ear 16, the one being projected upwardlyabove the pin 20, which is located rearwardly of the medial longitudinalver tical plane of the device. The forward side of the jaw 21 isinclined forwardly toward its lower part, forming one side of aninclined slot 23 between the jaws. The front jaw 22 therefore has arearward inclination toward its upper part to form the front side of theslot. The slot terminates at its lower part on a plane adjacent the axisof the pin 20 and is of a suitable width between the jaws to freelyreceive the pin 12 for oscillation therein.

The keeper 18 comprises primarily a hook portion 24, the base of whichreceives the pin 20 therethrough, and projected forwardly from the baseof the keeper there is an operating jaw and detent member 25 servingthree functions as will be subsequently explained. The jaw 25 isbroadened so as to form a stop portion 26 adapted to strike the bottomof the bight between the ears 15 and 16 when the keeper is in closedposition, as shown in Fig. 3. At this time, the upper side of the awextends approximately horizontally closely adjacent or on a level withthe bottom of the slot 23. The bill 27 of the hook 24 is so formed thatwhen the device is in closed position the inner face of the billext-ends vertically a short distance, or in such relation to th opposingface of the stationary jaw 21 that upon opening movement of the keeperdevice when the pin is engaged therein, the pin will be caught betweenthe jaw 21 and the hook bill, and opening movement oi": the keeperprevented, unless the pin is depressed so that the hook may clear it.The opposed faces of the hook and jaw 21 in the present construction arenearly or quite parallel when the pin becomes coengaged therebetween,although a slight variation "from parallelism is permissible, owing tothe outward pressure oi the pin. The point portion oi: the jaw 25 isbent laterally to a slight extent, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, so thatit engages between the jaws 21 and 22 when the keeper device is in openposition, and being snugly held between the cars 15 and 16, a slightwiping action occurs between the point portion of the operating jaw andthe statonary jaw 22, an inclined portion being presented to the jaw 22so that initial movement of the keeper "from open position is slightlyretarded, the device being yieldably detained in open po sition in thisway.

The keeper is provided with a finger piece 29, located upon the outeredge of the bight of the hook 24-, where it may be conveniently reachedfor opening of the device when necessary. The keeper is also providedwith a heel lug 30 upon its rear edge, so arranged as to strike againstthe rear part of the bar 19 when the device is moved to full openposition. 1

It will be seen that when the device is in open position the pin member12 becomes wedged between the outer parts of the operating jaw and thestationary jaw 21, so that a slight pressure upon the pin is sufiicientto overcome the resistance of the point 28 to opening movement of thekeeper. Continued pressure upon the pin 12 causes it to pass downwardlythrough the slot 23 moving the jaw 25 until the stop portion 26 engagesagainst the base of the device as shown in Fig. 3. The hook will thenhave been moved across the slot 23 so that its inner, surface is alinedwith the upper end portion of the jaw 22, which is suitably formed forthe purpose. Release of the pin 12 will then permit it to springoutwardly into the hook of the keeper. Opening of the device isaccomplished by pressing upon the pin 12 until it moves into the lowerpart of the slot 23, and then pressing upon the fingerpiece 29 to movethe keeper into open position. The point 28 of the keeper bears upon thearm 22 throughout the movement of the keeper, so that loose movement ofthe parts is prevented at all times.

What is claimed is: v

1. A pin keeper for brooches and the like comprising a body elementhaving stationary jaws thereon shaped to form a pin receiving slottherebetween, a keeper element pivoted laterally of the lower part ofthe slot, and having a hook portion movable into closed position overthe outer part of the slot to aline therewith, said keeper including anoperating jaw member having a face positioned to li across the lowerpart of the slot when the device is in closed po sition, and to set atan angle and in close relation at its outer partto one of said firstnamed jaws to-receive a pin member in wedging. engagement between theirouter parts for sliding movement into the slot and on said operatingjaw, and a pin member mounted and constructed to be held resistingly insaid device, and of a size to wedge as described.

2. A pin keeper for brooches and the like comprising a body elementhaving stationary jaws thereon shaped to form a pin receiving slottherebetween, a keeper element pivoted laterally of the lower part ofthe slot, and having a hook portion movable into closed position overthe outer part of the slot and alined therewith, said keeper includingan operating jaw. member having a face positioned to lie across thelower part of the slot when the device is in closed position, and to setat an angle to one of said first named jaws to receive a pin member inwedging engagement between their outer parts for sliding movement intothe slot and on said operating jaw, a pin member mounted and constructedto 'be held resistingly in said device, said hook member beingpositioned at an angle to one of said stationary jaws to engage the pinmember so as to prevent opening movement of the keeper, said operatingjaw having a laterally turned portion to engage yieldably between saidstationary jaws.

3. A pin keeper for brooches and the like comprising a body elementhaving stationary jaws thereon shaped to form a pin receiving slottherebetween, a keeper element pivoted laterally of the lower part ofthe slot, and having a hook portion movable into closed position overthe outer part of r the slot and alined therewith, said keeper includingan operating jaw member having a face positioned to lie. acrossthe lowerpart of the slot when the device is in closed position, and to set at anangle to one of said first named jaws to receive'a pin member in wedgingengagement between their outer parts for sliding movement into the sloton said operating jaw, a pin member mounted and constructed to be heldresist-- ingly in said device, said hook member being positioned at anangle to one of said stationary jaws to engage the pin member so as toprevent opening movement of the keeper, said operating jaw having anextension to engage against the base of the device to check movement ofthe keeper toward closed position.

4:, A pin keeper for brooches and the like comprising a body elementhaving stationary jaws thereon shaped to form a pin receiving slottherebetween, a keeper element pivoted laterally of the lower part ofthe slot, and having a hook portion movable into closed position overthe outer part of the slot and alined therewith, said keeper includingan operating jaw member having a face positioned to lie across the lowerpart of the slot when the device is in closed position, and to set at anangle to one of said first named jaws to receive a pin member in wedgingengagement between their outer parts for sliding movement into the sloton said operating jaw, a pin member mounted and constructed to be heldresistingly in said device, said hook member being positioned in arelation to one of said stationary jaws to engage the pin member so asto prevent opening movement of the keeper, said keeper device having aheel extension thereon to engage the base of the device under openingmovement to check the keeper in receiving position as described.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

JOSEPH J. WHITE. Witnesses:

FRED B. WHITE, ROBERT L. WARD.

